At least seven people were killed in Bangladesh after Cyclone Sitrang hit parts of the densely populated country late Monday night, according to media reports. The deaths were reported from Barguna, Narail, Sirajganj and the island district of Bhola, citing disaster ministry spokesman Nikhil Sarker. Thousands of people and livestock on the Cox’s Bazar coast were moved to cyclone shelters on Monday due to adverse weather conditions caused by Cyclone Sitrang.
The cyclone made landfall along the Chittagong-Barisal coast around 9:00 pm (8:30 pm IST). “Nearby educational institutions have also been prepared to be used as shelters if required,” Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar Mamunur Rashid said. “People are being evacuated to shelters to protect lives and property,” he added.
Here are the latest updates on Cyclone Sitrang:
A monitoring cell of Bangladesh Fire Brigade and Civil Defense has been activated and people have been asked to approach Union Parishad Chairman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer or District Commissioner’s office control room for help. Cyclone Sitrang weakened into a deep depression and was centered over Bangladesh about 90 km northeast of Dhaka, 60 km north-northwest of Agartala, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at 14:30 IST.
The system is likely to weaken into a depression during the next three hours and further into a well-marked low pressure area during the next six hours, the Met department said. Heavy rains and strong winds were expected to hit the newly formed muddy island of Bhashan Char, where Bangladesh is relocating Rohingya refugees. As Cyclone Sitrang is likely to bring heavy rain to neighboring Indian states, several thousand people have been evacuated from low-lying areas in West Bengal as a precaution, while more than 100 relief centers have been opened.
Light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura today. In at least four districts of Meghalaya bordering Bangladesh – East and West Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills – the administration ordered authorities to keep all educational institutions closed on Tuesday due to the cyclone. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the northern Bay of Bengal along and off the coast of West Bengal and Bangladesh till noon. Damage to standing crops including agricultural and horticultural crops is expected in Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur and South Assam due to heavy rains and gusty winds.
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